Hello, this is Finland!
The wonderful and charismatic Mr Jarkko Nikkanen from Finland, hosted a grand tasting of Finnish whisky at Dr. Jekyll’s Pub in Oslo a few weeks back. This was actually Jarkko’s second tasting at Dr. Jekyll’s. He was also here presenting Finnish whisky before the pandemic.
Jarkko is Mr Whisky in Finland, having written more than 10 whisky books (11) - alas all in Finnish, and hosted more than 2000 tastings. He is also the founder of the largest whisky club in Finland - Viskin Ystävien Seura ry (VYS) / The Fellowship of Whisky - with more than 1300 members.
So what did Jarkko bring with him, to show off the state of whisky production in Finland, this time? Well, here is the line-up (please forgive me if there are any typos in the Finnish names here - it is all Greek to me):
Ägräs Distillery – New make, 45.0%
A grain whisky, made with a mashbill of 70% wheat and 30% barley. Locally grown cereals. Made in a German hybrid still with a capacity of 1000 liters
Valamo Monastery Distillery – 8 YO, 50.0%
Unpeated single malt whisky, maured in a single 1st fill ex-bourbon cask, and limited to 318 bottles
Bottled for the Finnish Whisky Day 2024.
Beerhunter’s Old Buck – Surprise cask sample, 3 YO, 56-58%
Produced in a 150 L German hybrid still.
Matured in a 40 L cask.
Teerenpeli Distillery – Sherryisen tanniininen nahkatalli 2016/2022, 6 YO, 58.5%
Peated single malt whisky. Jarkko’s private 55 L ex-sherry cask. Limited to 87 bottles.
Helsinki Distilling Company (HDCO) – Release #28, 4 YO, 47.5%
A single cask rye whisky that has received an ex-Imperial stout cask finish.
Bottled for the Finnish Whisky Day 2024.
The mashbill for this rye whisky is 70% rye and 30% barley.
Kyrö Distillery Company – Heimosoturin päiväannos 2017/2022, 5 YO, 51.7%
Made from 50% elderwood smoked rye whisky, the rest unpeated.
This is from another of Jarkko’s private casks, a 64 L new American oak cask. Limited to 93 bottles
Some of the whiskies we had. For some reason I forgot to take a picture showing all six.
Jarkko started us off gently with a very nice grain newmake from Ägräs. This has the potential to be one of the very best Nordic grain whiskies, and we do need more Nordic grain whisky for the future blended whiskies that surely must come on market with time. How else will all the Nordic distilleries be able to move all that liquid they are producing?
Then we were treated to the true highlight of the evening for me, the 8 year old Valamo. Wow! Light, fruity and creamy bourbon barrel aged beauty of a whisky.
The third dram of the evening was a strange one. The Beerhunter’s Old Buck was the very first to start whisky production in modern times in Finland, all the way back in 2001. Just a handful of casks (if that) are laid down each year. This was not quite to my taste; a mixture of shoeshine and weird spices. Rather tannic and oaky as well.
Then, the peated Teerenpeli. Again a very good whisky. I believe I’ve only ever tried unpeated Teerenpeli up till now, and possibly one that has received a finish in ex-Islay casks. This was really delicious, with notes of raspberry and raisin jam mixed with warm wood smoke.
The HDCO release ¤28 was rock solid, as always from this distillery. Distinct rye notes, as well as chocolate mousse and - of all things - gherkin.
To finish it all off (no pun intended!) we had a lovely Kyrö private cask. Gently smoked with elderwood. Sweet wineous notes, as well as pepper and a creamy mouthfeel.
All in all a very enjoyable evening. Hello, Finland, indeed! I hope to see you again soon!
Dr. Jekyll’s Pub once again brings a great whisky event to town.
The whisky from Valamo.
The Teerenpeli expression.
Sláinte!
- Thomas
